Thread-storing device for temporarily storing a thread

ABSTRACT

A thread is wound in successive loops at the same end of a stationary holder having an even number of rollers arranged in a circle. Alternate rollers rotate in opposite directions to reduce friction. A rotary thread guide builds up a coil on the rollers from which the leading loop is taken off and supplied to a textile machine, while new trailing loops are laid by the rotary thread guide. When the number of loops of the wound coil is sufficient, the motor driving the thread guide is stopped, and then started again when a minimum number of loops remains on the rollers.

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[54] THREAD-STUHNG DEVICE 1 10M 2,936,877 5/1960 Adams et al ..242/47.09

TEMPgRAHLY STUHNG A THEAH) 3,209,558 10/1965 Cargill ..242/47.1l X 3,411,548 11/1968 Pfarrwaller ..242/47. 12 X Inventor: Frei, Morickestrasse 7477 Onst- 3,455,341 7/1969 Pfarrwaller et al ..66/l32 X mettingen, Germany Primary ExaminerStanley N. Gilreath [22] Filed Sept 1970 Assistant Examiner-Milton Gerstein {21] App]. No.: 711,520 Attorney-Michael S. Striker [30] Foreign Application Priority Data: [57] ABSTRACT A thread is wound in successive loops. at the same end of a sta- Sept. 20, 1969 Germany ..P 19 47 72711 tionary holder having an even number of rollers arranged in a circle. Alternate rollers rotate in opposite directions to reduce fi 'f' 342M109 figfjgg; friction. A rotary thread guide builds up a coil on the rollers [58] me'ld 08 47 09 from which the leading loop is taken off and supplied to a tex- /4 l1 f f h f tile machine, while new trailing loops are laid by the rotary l39/122 thread guide. When the number of loops of the wound coil is sufficient, the motor driving the thread guide is stopped, and l 56] References Cited then started again when a minimum number of loops remains on the rollers.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 18 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 2,380,526 7/1945 Hoagland ..242/47.1

PAIEMED 9125mm I 35375149 INVENTOR m m,

ATTORNEY PATENIEU JANZSlHYZ 3.637; 14% mm m w ATTORNEY THREAD-STORING DEVICE FOR TEMIPOIRARILY STORING A THREAD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a thread-storing device for temporarily storing a thread supplied to a textile machine, particularly a knitting machine. This type of thread-storing device is also known as a furnishing wheel, or fournisseur," and serves the purpose of supplying to a knitting machine a thread which is neither too loose nor highly tensioned, so that the knitted fabric is produced by thread supplied to the needles at constant tension.

If the takeoff device of the knitting machine would be used without a thread-storing device for supplying the needle with thread from a wound package, the supplied thread would be subject to sudden contractions and expansions which would detrimentally affect the knitted fabric.

In one thread-storing device according to the prior art, the thread is supplied between two loosely meshing gears, one of which is driven so that the thread is transported at a uniform speed. This type of thread-storing device is unsuitable for knitting machines in which the length and speed of the required thread varies substantially. In accordance with the knitted pattern, one or the other thread may not be used at all for a while, so that supply of this thread must be stopped. A thread-storing device which supplies a constant length of thread per time unit, is not suitable for machines of the Jacquard type, for example. 7

Another thread-storing device is known which takes a predetermined amount of thread from a thread package, and winds the same up so that the thread can then be supplied from the wound-up coil to the knitting machine. When the entire wound-up coil is used up, the same amount of thread is again wound up and stored. This thread-storing device according to the prior art has disadvantages, inasmuch as loops or turns of the wound-up thread are pushed downward by a slide, which sometimes causes superimposing of loops, particularly if the winding drum is almost full with thread. The incorrect position of the thread on the windup drum causes jerky feeding, and furthermore due to the elasticity of the thread, sudden contractions and expansions of the thread, which detrimentally influence the quality of the knitted fabric. Another disadvantage of this device resides in that a piece of the thread between the winding drum and a brake of the takeoff means of the knitting machine, is twisted when momentarily no thread is taken off, but while the winding drum rotates to wind up an additional length of thread. The respective thread portion is then twisted corresponding to the number of loops wound on the winding drum. The twisted thread causes rapid contractions and expansions of the thread, and an uneven stitch pattern of the knitted fabric.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of thread-storing devices and thread-furnishing wheels according to the prior art, and to provide a thread-storing device in which thread is wound up and taken offin such a manner that no sudden contractions and expansions of the thread can occur.

Another object of the invention is to provide a thread-storing device in which the thread wound up on a holder engages the holder with low friction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a thread storing device in which thread is simultaneously stored on a holder in the form of a coil receiving new loops at one end, and supplying thread from the other end thereof to a textile machine.

In accordance with the invention, the holder on which a rotary thread guide builds up a coil, includes substantially parallel cylindrical rolls which are driven in such a manner that alternate rolls rotate, or angularly oscillate, in opposite directions. A helical coil of thread is wound up on the rollers, and the number of loops depends on the relative speed at which the thread is wound up, and taken off, respectively.

Due to the fact that the holder on which the thread is wound, consists of angularly moving rollers, the friction between the wound-up thread and the surface of the rollers is low, so that the loops can be laid side by side, and slide on the rollers without requiring mechanical slides for pushing the windings in one direction in order to make room for the next wound loop. Consequently, the invention permits the winding of a coil by laying successive loops at the same end of the holder by which the preceding loops are pushed in one axial direction and form a completely uniformly wound coil.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a motor drives, preferably rotates, the rollers of the holder, and has a central shaft for driving a thread guide to rotate about the holder for laying loops on the same.

One embodiment of the invention comprises a holder having a main axis and including supporting means, and at least a pair of two holding members mounted on the supporting means for angular, preferably rotary, movement in opposite directions about two axes equally spaced from the main axis and being parallel to the same; drive means preferably including a motor and transmission means for rotating the holding members, which are preferably cylindrical rollers; winding means preferably a rotary member having a peripheral thread guide rotatable about the main axis for winding a supplied thread about the ends of the tubular rollers so that wound loops slide on the rollers in one axial direction from one end to the other end of each roller; and takeoff means operated by the textile machine for unwinding the leading loop from the rotating rollers.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional ob jects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is an axial sectional view illustrating a thread-storing device according to an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line II--II in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A motor 10 has a casing to whose bottom wall, a housing 14 is secured. The shaft of the motor I2 has a vertical axis, as shown in FIG. I, but it will be understood that the device could be placed in other positions in which the axis of shaft I2 would not be vertical.

Motor shaft 12 carries the rotor, not shown, of motor 10, and projects a short distance from the top wall of the motor casing, while having a long shaft portion projecting from the bottom wall of the motor casing and from the housing 14. A gear 52 is secured to motor shaft l2 within housing 14. Motor shaft I2 is hollow, and has at the lower end 20 thereof, a threaded end portion. A circular disc 22 is secured by two nuts 24 to the lower end of motor shaft 12, and can be adjusted in axial direction by means of the threaded portion and displace ment of nuts 24. A thread or yarn 18 is guided through the interior of the hollow motor shaft from the upper end 11 to the lower end 20, from where thread lit extends in radial direction to a bore 28 which extends in axial direction through an axially upward projecting flange 26, the bore 28 forming a thread guide for thread 118 and rotating with motor shaft I2 about the main axis of shaft I2 and along a circular path. Bore 28 widens at the ends thereof to permit a smooth passage of thread 118, and it is possible to slant the thread-guiding bore 28 a small angle inward or outward in relation to the axial position in which bore 28 is shown in FIG. II.

The transmission housing 114 has a top wall 38 to which attaching portions of eight shafts or journals 36 are secured, as also shown in FIG. 2. The attaching portions 39 may be pressed into corresponding bores in top wall 33, or threaded into corresponding threaded bores.

At least two shafts 36 are provided, but in the illustrated embodiment, four pairs ofdiametrically disposed shafts 36 are provided and arranged along a circle concentric with the main axis of motor shaft 12, and uniformly spaced in circumferential direction.

Each shaft or journal 36 rotatably supports an elongated tubular, and substantially cylindrical roller 16 which are retained on the shaft 36 by suitable holding rings 40. The upper end of each roller 16 forms a shoulder abutting the inner surface of top wall 38, and the tubular rollers 16 are mounted with sufficient radial play on shaft 36, respectively, so that they are freely rotatable on the same with a minimum of friction.

Tubular rollers 16 may consist of metal, or of a synthetic plastic material such as known under the trade name Duroplast." The space between the tubular rollers 16 and the shaft 36 may be lubricated. While in the illustrated embodiment, the tubular rollers have substantially cylindrical surfaces, the outer surfaces of rollers 16 may be slightly conical, and tapering at an angle of 1 to 1.5". It is also possible to slant shafts 36 slightly inward in radial direction toward shaft 12.

Since the rotating disc 22, 26 places by means of thread guide 28 successive loops about the lower ends of all rollers 16, the above-explained possible slant facilitates the sliding of the coil wound of thread 18 around the eight rollers.

A gear 50 is secured to the upper end of each roller 16 and located within the housing 14. Gears 50 may consist of metal or a synthetic plastic material, and may be pressed onto rollers 16, or secured to the same in any other suitable manner. it is also possible to injection mold the roller 16 and the respective gear 50 integrally of a synthetic plastic material.

Gear 52 on motor shaft 12, which may consist of metal or a synthetic plastic material, meshes with an intermediate gear 54, which, as best seen in FIG. 2, is rotatably mounted on a journal 56 secured to the top wall 38 of transmission housing 14. Journal 56 may also be pressed into corresponding bores of top wall 38. The intermediate gear 54 is held against axial downward movement by a split ring, not shown.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the intermediate gear 54 meshes with motor gear 52 and with one of gears 50 so that rotation of motor shaft 12 in one direction of rotation causes rotation of the respective gear 50 in the same direction. However, the two gears 50 meshing with the respective gear 50 will rotate in the opposite direction, and the arrangement is such that alternate gears 50 will rotate in opposite directions during continuous rotation of motor shaft 12 in the same direction, Four gears 50 rotate in clockwise direction, and four other gears rotate in counterclockwise direction. Transmission housing 14 is closed by a cover 42, as best seen in FIG. 1, provided with openings for the passage of rollers 16 and of motor shaft 12.

The lower free end of each tubular roller 16 is provided with a head portion 30 which has at the end an outer surface with a diameter greater than the diameter of the main portion of rollers l6, and this diameter is gradually reduced in upward direction so that the surface of the head portion 30 gradually merges into the outer surface of rollers 16.

As shown in FIG. 1, the upper rim 32 of the axially projecting flange 26 of disc 22 projects a small distance, for example a few millimeters, beyond the lower circular edge 34 of rollers 16. The top face 23 of disc 22 is spaced a small distance from the free ends 37 of shafts 36, so that disc 22 does not touch the shafts 36. In the same manner, the inner surface 27 of flange 26 is spaced from the radially outermost points at the free ends of roller 16. Between the edge 34 of rollers 16 and the inner surface 27, a distance of between 2 and 3 mm. may be provided.

When the winding means including disc 22, flange 26, and thread guide bore 28 is rotated with motor shaft 12, a first loop is laid about the tapered heads 30 of all rollers or holding members 16, which are stationary. A next following loop laid by the thread guide 28, pushes the preceding loop upward on all rollers 16. FIG. 1 shows a number of loops already laid about the eight rollers or holding members 16, the loop 58 leading in the direction in which the coil is built up.

A thin circular plate 60, preferably consisting ofa synthetic plastic material, rests on the uppermost leading loop 58, and has openings for the passage of the rollers 16 and motor shaft l2. A permanent magnet 62 is mounted on plate 60, and moves with the same when the number of windings on rollers 16 increases or decreases.

Two magnetic switches 66 and 68 are mounted in predetermined axially spaced position on a wire 64 which is secured to the top wall 14 of the housing 38, and passes through cover 42 of the same. Insulated electric wires, not shown, are connected with the magnetic contacts 66 and 68 and guided outward between two rollers 16 where they are connected with electric control apparatus, not shown, .for operating start and stop switches of motor 10.

The yarn 18 is guided from the uppermost leading loop on the eight rollers 16 about the circular peripheral rim 72 of winding disc 22, 26 to a conventional brake 70 from where it is pulled out by the knitting machine, not shown, in the direction of the arrow A.

The apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 operate as follows:

The thread 18, supplied from a thread package, not shown, is threaded through the hollow motor shaft 11 then laid in radial direction over the bottom face of disc 22, from where it passes through the thread-guiding bore 28 to the region 32 of flange 26 which is located above the lower end of rollers 16.

When motor 10 rotates shaft 12 with winding means 26, 27, 28, a first loop is laid about the eight rollers 16, and as rotation is continued, successive loops are placed always at the same starting surface portion of the rollers 16, while the preceding loops are pushed up and form a helical coil gradually rising in upward direction on the eight rollers 16 so that the uppermost leading loops 58 pushes the plate 60 upward. At the same time, the thread 18 may be taken off through the brake means 70 from the leading uppermost loop 58, with a portion of thread 18 sliding around the circular peripheral outer surface 72 of the rotating winding disc 22, 26.

Assuming that the motor is stopped so that neither winding means 22, 26, 28, nor the holder rollers 16 are rotated, the operating textile machine will pull the thread 18 through the brake means 70 and remove the uppermost loops, starting with loop 58 and then continuing to take off successive loops in downward directionv Consequently, the height of the helical coil is continuously reduced, and plate 60 moves downward. When the permanent magnet 62 enters the region of the lower magnetic switch 68, the start switch of motor 10 is closed, and the motor rotates shaft 12, for example, at a speed of l,400 r.p.m. while the rollers 16 rotate at a rotary speed of 700 rpm. due to the transmission ratio of 2: 1 between motor shaft gear 52, and gears 50.

Due to the fact that the holding rollers, although remaining in a stationary position, rotate about shaft 36, the friction between the outer cylindrical surface of roller 16, which are preferably highly polished, and thread 18 is reduced, so that the windings which are successively wound up, smoothly and rapidly move upward in axial direction on the holder formed by the eight rollers 16 so that the leading loop 58 rises and also raises the plate 60 with the permanent magnet 62. No mechanical slides are required for pushing the loops upward.

Due to the fact that alternate rollers 60 rotate in opposite directions, the loops on the same are not driven in circumferential direction, but freely move only in axial direction, since alternate rollers 16 push the loops in opposite circumferential directions,

Winding of thread 18 on rollers 16 is continued until plate 60 is raised to a position in which the permanent magnet 62 operates the upper magnetic switch 66 so that motor 10 is stopped. While thread 18 is wound up from the lower ends of the rollers 16 toward the upper ends of the same, the leading uppermost loops are continuously taken off through brake 70 due to the operations of the needles of the knitting machine.

The rotary speed of motor 10, and thereby the winding speed of the thread 18, are so selected that even at the fastest operations of the knitting machine, a greater length ofthread is wound up by the motor and the winding means on rollers l6, than is used by the machine and taken off the upper end of the coil.

it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a threadstoring device as shown in FllGS. l and 2, is provided at every feeding station of the knitting machine, and it is possible to use only a single drive motor for all thread-storing devices of the knitting machine, and to connect the common motor through magnetic clutches with the respective shaft B2 of the several thread storing devices. The magnetic clutches are operated by the magnetic switches 66 and 66 as described above.

ln a preferred embodiment of the invention, rollers 16 may have a diameter of mm. and a length of about 80 mm. The outer diameter of the winding disc 22, 26 is preferably 100 to 120 mm.

The thread-storing device according to the invention can be used with any type of thread, including natural, synthetic, or semisynthetic threads, and also for rubber thread and thread consisting of a mineral material.

instead of four pairs of rollers 16, any other number of pairs of rollers 16 may be used for one holder, and it is preferred to have an even number of rollers 16 in ozder to prevent transporting of wound-up loops in circumferential direction, which is prevented by adjacent rollers 16 rotating in opposite directions.

instead of rotating rollers H6, it is possible to oscillate rollers 16 in an angular movement, but as explained above, adjacent rollers must oscillate in opposite directions so that the friction of the thread on the rollers is reduced, without driving the thread in circumferential direction. In such an embodiment, instead of rollers, semicylindrical elements may be used which are oscillated in opposite directions by a suitable linkage.

Due to the movement of the rollers 16 and the small friction between the thread and the outer surface of the rollers 16, ten sion variations caused by the package from which the thread is drawn, are equalized in the thread-storing device, since the thread can slide somewhat in circumferential direction on the smooth outer surfaces of rollers 16. This has the advantage, that the thread will always run off at the same tension.

In the illustrated embodiment, successive loops of the thread are wound by thread guide 28 onto the tapered head portion 30 of rollers 16. Due to the slant of the head portion, the thread tends to move inward, and consequently upward, so that the axial movement of the wound loops in upward direction is facilitated, and room is made for the next following wound loop. However, the apparatus operates satisfactorily with cylindrical rollers 1l6 which are not provided with the tapered head 30, since each newly wound loop pushes the preceding loop upward.

Due to the fact that in the apparatus of the invention, the piece of thread between the rollers ]l6 and the brake 70 is not twisted, two different threads i8 can be simultaneously wound up, stored, and taken off, and then separated after passing through brake 70. However, it is necessary that both threads are simultaneously pulled in by the knitting machine.

In a modified embodiment, the rollers 16 are not tubular and mounted on shaft 36, but are solid cylindrical rollers mounted in bearings of housing means lid,

In another modified embodiment of the invention, the plate 60, the permanent magnet 62, and the magnetic switches 66, 6d are omitted.

When the number of loops on the rollers 16 reaches a predetermined number, increasing the friction between the loops and the rollers 16 beyond a predetermined value, the motor is braked to a stop when the wound-up coil has a predetermined axial length. When the motor is thus stopped, the leading loops are successively taken off, as explained above, so that the height of the helical coil is reduced, so that fewer loops exert friction on rollers ll6 so that the motor starts again to rotate since it is capable of overcoming the reduced load. More loops are then wound up by the motor than are taken off, so that the number of loops increases together with the friction so that the motor is again braked and stopped. For this purpose, a motor resistant to short circuits must be used, since the motor is braked to a complete stop. It is also possible to provide a slip clutch between the motor and the gear 52 on motor shaft l2.

From the above description of a preferred embodiment it will become apparent that the winding means 22, 26, 2% wind successive loops about a holding means which includes supporting means in the form of housing M, and holding members 16 mounted on the supporting means. Motor l0 constitutes the drive means for rotating the holding members ll6, and also the winding means 22, 26, 28.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of thread-storing devices for temporarily storing a thread differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a holder having at least a pair of two holding members rotating in opposite directions, and means for winding a thread about the holding members, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit ofthe present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

lclaim:

ll. Thread-storing device for temporarily storing a thread supplied to a textile machine, comprising holding means having a main axis and including supporting means, and at least a pair of holding members mounted on said supporting means for angular movement in opposite directions about two axes spaced from said main axis; drive means for angularly moving i said holding members; winding means at one end of said hold ing means and including a thread guide rotatable about said main axis for winding a supplied thread at said one end about said angularly moving holding members so that wound loops slide on said holding members in one axial direction from said one end of said holding means toward the other end of the same; and takeoff means adapted to be operated by the textile machine for unwinding from said holding members the loop leading in said axial direction.

2. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim ll wherein said drive means rotate said holding members in opposite directions.

3. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said supporting means include at least two parallel shafts; and wherein said holding members are elongated tubular rollers mounted on said shafts, respectively.

4. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means include motor means, and transmission means connecting said motor means with said holding members for rotating the same; wherein said motor means are connected with said winding means for rotating said thread guide.

5. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 41 wherein said motor means is mounted at said other end of said holding means on said supporting means, and includes a hollow shaft extending along said main axis, and being connected with said winding means for rotating said thread guide; and wherein the thread is supplied to said thread guide through said hollow shaft.

6. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said winding means includes a disc secured to said hollow shaft and having a peripheral bore axially extending through said disc and constituting said thread guide, said bore being spaced from said main axis a greater distance than said holding mem bers.

7. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said disc has a peripheral flange axially projecting in said one axial direction and circumferentially extending about said one end of said holding means and of the corresponding ends of said holding members; and wherein said axially extending bore is formed in said flange.

8. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said two axes are parallel to said main axis and spaced the same radial distance from said main axis; and wherein said thread guide is radially spaced from said main axis a greater distance than said radial distance so that said thread guide moves along a circular path about said holding members.

9. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said holding means comprise at least another pair of holding members so that an even number of holding members is provided, all said holding members having axes located equally spaced along a circle having the center thereof in said main axis and being parallel to the same; wherein said driving means include motor means, gear means driven by said motor means, and a gear on each holding member driven by said gear means.

10. Thread-storing device as claimedin claim 9 wherein said supporting means include a housing in which said gear means and said gears are located, anal a plurality of shafts secured to said housing and rotatably supporting said holding members.

11. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim ll wherein said supporting means include at least two shafts having said two axes, respectively, and wherein said holding members are tubular rollers mounted on said two shafts, respectively, said tubular rollers and shafts having free ends located in the region of said one end of said holding means, said free end of each tubular roller having a starting surface having a diameter gradually reduced in said one axial direction and merging into the remaining outer surface of said tubular roller; and wherein said thread guide moves along a circular path about said starting surfaces of said tubular rollers so that the wound loops slide from the same to the remaining outer surfaces of said tubular rollers.

12. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said winding means includes a disc having a circular peripheral outer rim having an axial bore therethrough forming said thread guide; wherein said disc is connected with said drive means and rotated by the same; and wherein the thread taken from said leading loop by said takeoff means slides along said peripheral outer rim without rotating.

l3. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said winding means and thread guide are rotated by said drive means; further comprising a plate guided for axial movement along said holding members resting on said leading loop and moving toward said other end of said holding means with said leading loop when said winding means winds more thread loops on holding members than are taken off by said takeoff means, and moving toward said one end of said holding means when more thread is taken off than is wound on said holding members.

14. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said drive means include motor means having a start switch and a stop switch on said supporting means spaced in axial direction; and wherein said plate operates said start switch and stop switch, respectively, in two end positions in which a minimum and a maximum, respectively, of loops is wound on said holding members.

15. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said start and stop switches are magnetic switches; and wherein said plate includes a permanent magnet for actuating said magnetic switches in said end positions.

16. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means also drive said winding means and thread guide; and further comprising means for stopping said drive means when a predetermined number of loops has been wound on said holding members, and for again starting said drive means when a predetermined number of loops has been unwound and taken off said holding members while said drive means is stop ed. I

l7. Threa -stormg device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said holding members have outer surfaces conically tapering from said one end toward the other of said holding means.

18. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means rotate said holding members, and also said thread guide; wherein said drive means include a motor adapted to stop at a high load caused by friction of a great number of loops wound on said holding members, and to start at a reduced load when almost all wound loops are taken off said holding member while said motor is stopped. 

1. Thread-storing device for temporarily storing a thread supplied to a textile machine, comprising holding means having a main axis and including supporting means, and at least a pair of holding members mounted on said supporting means for angular movement in opposite directions about two axes spaced from said main axis; drive means for angularly moving said holding members; winding means at one end of said holding means and including a thread guide rotatable about said main axis for winding a supplied thread at said one end about said angularly moving holding members so that wound loops slide on said holding members in one axial direction from said one end of said holding means toward the other end of the same; and takeoff means adapted to be operated by the textile machine for unwinding from said holding members the loop leading in said axial direction.
 2. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means rotate said holding members in opposite directions.
 3. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said supporting means include at least two parallel shafts; and wherein said holding members are elongated tubular rollers mounted on said shafts, respectively.
 4. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means include motor means, and transmission means connecting said motor means with said holding members for rotating the same; wherein said motor means are connected with said winding means for rotating said thread guide.
 5. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said motor means is mounted at said other end of said holding means on said supporting means, and includes a hollow shaft extending along said main axis, and being connected with said winding means for rotating said thread guide; and wherein the thread is supplied to said thread guide through said hollow shaft.
 6. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said winding means includes a disc secured to said hollow shaft and having a peripheral bore axially extending through said disc and constituting said thread guide, said bore being spaced from said main axis a greater distance than said holding members.
 7. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said disc has a peripheral flange axially projecting in said one axial direction and circumferentially extending about said one end of said holding means and of the corresponding ends of said holding members; and wherein said axially extending bore is formed in said flange.
 8. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said two axes are parallel to said main axis and spaced the same radial distance from said main axis; and wherein said thread guide is radially spaced from said main axis a greater distance than said radial distance so that said thread guide moves along a circular path about said holding members.
 9. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said holding means comprise at least another pair of holding members so that an even number of holding members is provided, all said holding members having axes located equally spaced along a circle having the center thereof in said main axis and being parallel to the same; wherein said driving means include motor means, gear means driven by said motor means, and a gear on each holding member driven by said gear means.
 10. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said supporting means include a housing in which said gear means and said gears are located, and a plurality of shafts secured to said housing and rotatably supporting said holding members.
 11. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said supporting means include at least two shafts having said two axes, respectively, and wherein said holding members are tubular rollers mounted on said two shafts, respectively, said tubular rollers and shafts having free ends located in the region of said one end of sAid holding means, said free end of each tubular roller having a starting surface having a diameter gradually reduced in said one axial direction and merging into the remaining outer surface of said tubular roller; and wherein said thread guide moves along a circular path about said starting surfaces of said tubular rollers so that the wound loops slide from the same to the remaining outer surfaces of said tubular rollers.
 12. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said winding means includes a disc having a circular peripheral outer rim having an axial bore therethrough forming said thread guide; wherein said disc is connected with said drive means and rotated by the same; and wherein the thread taken from said leading loop by said takeoff means slides along said peripheral outer rim without rotating.
 13. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said winding means and thread guide are rotated by said drive means; further comprising a plate guided for axial movement along said holding members resting on said leading loop and moving toward said other end of said holding means with said leading loop when said winding means winds more thread loops on holding members than are taken off by said takeoff means, and moving toward said one end of said holding means when more thread is taken off than is wound on said holding members.
 14. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said drive means include motor means having a start switch and a stop switch on said supporting means spaced in axial direction; and wherein said plate operates said start switch and stop switch, respectively, in two end positions in which a minimum and a maximum, respectively, of loops is wound on said holding members.
 15. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said start and stop switches are magnetic switches; and wherein said plate includes a permanent magnet for actuating said magnetic switches in said end positions.
 16. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means also drive said winding means and thread guide; and further comprising means for stopping said drive means when a predetermined number of loops has been wound on said holding members, and for again starting said drive means when a predetermined number of loops has been unwound and taken off said holding members while said drive means is stopped.
 17. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said holding members have outer surfaces conically tapering from said one end toward the other of said holding means.
 18. Thread-storing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means rotate said holding members, and also said thread guide; wherein said drive means include a motor adapted to stop at a high load caused by friction of a great number of loops wound on said holding members, and to start at a reduced load when almost all wound loops are taken off said holding member while said motor is stopped. 